Dear Editor,
I recently commented on the illegal police promotions. However, misleading statements by Calvin Brutus in the media have caused me to put my fingers on the keyboard and to submit this missive.
Editor please permit me to trace some events leading up to the promotions. On July 1, 2022, Bishop, Patrick Findlay who is/was the Prime Minister’s representative in Region 4 and the illegally installed Chairman of the politically-influenced Police Service Commission, during a media interview said that he had done very little work apart from reading files left in the office by the previous Commission. He explained that he was awaiting the list of recommendations for promotions from the Commissioner. On July 3, 2022, Clifton Hicken announced the list of promotions for members of the Force ranging from Inspectors to Assistant Commissioners. Circulating, was a stamped document signed by the Secretary of the Commission dated July 2, 2022 approving the promotions. It is clear that the promotions were approved one day after the list was received. The Commission did not have enough time for due diligence which would included: conducting interviews if necessary; scrutinising personal files and other documents to ascertain if person/s had disciplinary and or criminal matters under investigation, persons who passed the Appropriate Qualifying examinations, seniority, qualification, experience, merit and other pertinent issues and concerns. In addition there appeared to be flagrant breaches of the Police Standing Orders number 22 that deals with promotions and rule 29 ( 1 – 3 ) of the Public Service Commission Rules which are enshrined in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
I challenge Calvin Brutus, the person who sits in the chair, the installed chairman and members of the Commission to publicly deny the following: (a) Two officers who were promoted to assistant commissioners had disciplinary matters pending against them.
(b) The Minister of Home Affairs wrote Deputy Commissioner, Nigel Hoppie who was performing the duties of Commissioner to proceed with a criminal charge against one of the officers who was promoted to Assistant Commissioner.
(c) Numerous ranks with disciplinary matters were promoted.
(d) There were numerous unjustified supersessions.
(e) The installed Chairman of the Police Association, Prem Narine was promoted without justification from Inspector to Superintendent. He superseded over 180 others.
(f) One sergeant who did not pass the Appropriate Qualifying Examination was promoted to Assistant Superintendent.
(g) One senior officer who the Hon. Chief Justice deemed self-serving was promoted to Assistant Commissioner
(h) Many outstanding members of the Force were unjustly denied promotions
(i) There were flagrant violations of the Police Standing Orders 22 that deals with promotions and rule 29 (1 – 3) of the Public Service Rules which are enshrined in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
(j) One civilian was promoted.
(k) Several ranks who did not pass the Appropriate Qualifying Examinations were promoted.
I urge the police to produce direct, circumstantial, documentary and real evidence to deny the above. Please do not give me hearsay evidence unless they are exemptions to the rule.
Calvin Brutus in a letter to the press signed as Chairman of the Police Officers’ Association. This is ridiculous. Assistant Commissioners are excluded from being members of the Police Officers Association. Calvin Brutus cannot speak for that body. When Senior Superintendent Paul Slowe, Chairman of that Association became an Assistant Commissioner of Police he had to demit that office. That was the position with former Chairmen of the Association, Senior Superintendents Clinton Conway and Balram Persaud when they were promoted to Assistant Commissioners. I wonder why Brutus is holding on to power? Calvin Brutus mentioned that the denial of promotion will shatter the morale of the ranks. I wonder what happened when Brutus blocked the last promotion. What analysis did Calvin Brutus do or caused to be done to conclude that the morale of the ranks is at an all-time high because of the promotions. On the other side of the coin several members of the Force reached out to me expressing their dissatisfaction with the promotions. Let me be clear. I welcome promotions but they must be with merit. I cannot enjoy the Fruit of the Poisonous Tree. Et tu, Brutus?
I again pray that God will help the Guyana Police Force
Yours respectfully,
Clinton Conway
Assistant Commissioner of Police
(Retired)
Former Chairman of the Police Officers’ Association
